Raveling-machine.



PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

S. G. MILLER.

RAVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION PILEDAPR. 9.1904.

7 3 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

3 SHEETS-gHI-ZET 2.

s. e. MILLER.

RAVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB... 9.1904.

THE NORRIS PETERS co WASHINGTON, 0. c4

PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

enter the fabric.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY G. MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SMITH & FURBUSII MACHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA,

RAVE LING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1 1, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, STANLEY G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Raveling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for separating the warp from the weft threads of a woven fabric without destroying the fiber of the cotton, wool, or other material of the fabric, to the end that such material may be re-spun as a high grade yarn. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a side view, partly broken away, illustrating my improved raveling machine; Fig. 2, is a front view, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the opposite side of the machine to that shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4, is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one end of the bearing plate; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66, Fig. 4; and Fig. 7, is a sectional view of one of the simplest forms of my invention.

A is the frame of the machine, on this frame are mounted the bearings a, a for the shaft B of the toothed cylinder B. The teeth I) are arranged on parallel circumferential lines in the present instance and are formed from metallic strips resting in grooves in the cylinder, but the strips may be arranged spirally on the cylinder or the teeth may be in the form of pins, Without departing from my invention. The teeth are overhung, being preferably pointed and shaped as shown in the drawings, so as to enter the fabric and properly engage the transverse threads presented to the teeth to be raveled.

Situated in front of the cylinder B is a feed roll D having spiked teeth d in the present instance, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, which The journals d of the roll D are mounted in boxes which are adapted to the housings C carried by the frame A.

Set screws 0 and c are arranged so that the boxes can be vertically adjusted.

Carried by the housings C, C is a cross head E having parallel grooves e into which extend the points of the teeth d of the roll D. By this arrangement the fabric is forced down onto the teeth so that the teeth will be sure to engage the fabric and hold it sufficiently against the pull of the raveling teeth on the cylinder B.

Carried by the cross head E is a plate F which extends across the machine on a line parallel with the axis of the cylinder B and having an edge f under which the fabric passes from the feed roll D to the cylinder B. This edge f is slightly above a line drawn through the center of the cylinder B and the roll D, so that the teeth b of the cylinder will properly engage the transverse threads of the fabric immediately on their emerging from under the edge of the plate and these threads will be drawn and eventually separated from the longitudinal threads which are held by the feed roll D, as it will be understood that the teeth I) of the cylinder move at a greater speed past the plate than the feed roll D, conse uently while the body of the fabric is being 1e1d and fed gradually forward by the feed roll the teeth of the cylinder engage the transverse threads and draw and separate them from the longitudinal threads.

In order to properly feed the fabric to the spiked feed roll D, I provide two feed rolls G and H, one mounted directly above the other and the shafts of these feed rolls are carried by boxes g and 7t mounted in the housings C, the box It being fixed and the box 9 being adjustable. In the present instance there is a spring 0 between the two boxes and a set screw 0 under the box 9.

The feed roll G is provided with teeth g in clined backwards and of such a shape as to engage the fabric, but will readily leave the same at the proper point; in the present in stance the teeth are wedge shaped.

In order to force the fabric onto the teeth of the feed roll D, I form a series of grooves h in the feed roll H, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and the flange 6 of the cross head extends to the feed roll II. as shown in Fig. 4

and has a series of short ribs which enter the The fabric can be presented to the feed rolls G and H in any suitable manner. In

the present instance I have shown an endless belt I for carrying the fabric and presenting it to the rolls. This belt is carried by rolls i L mounted in bearings and either one of the rolls can be driven. In some in stances in place of the endless belt a fixed table may be used and the material fed to the rolls by hand. (See Fig. 7.)

I preferably make the housings C, C adjustable and, in the present instance, I form slots 0 in the housings for the passage of the securing bolts (1, and by this means the entire feed mechanism can be adjusted towards and from the periphery of the cylinder B.

The plate F is held to the cross head E by bolts f and can be adjusted vertically by a set screw 1, so that as. the edge of the plate wears away it can be brought to the proper point in respect to the teeth of the cylinder.

In order to allow the teeth d of the feed roll D to engage the fabric at a point as near as possible to the edge of the plate F, I form a series of parallel grooves f in the plate which are in line with the grooves e in the cross head. By this means the spiked teeth of the roll D are forced to engage and hold the fabric as near as possible tothe point of disintegration.

By the arrangement of the fixed plate and the spiked feed roll I am enabled to hold the last remnant of the fabric while it is being disintegrated, preventing large pieces of woven fabric being carried over by the teeth of the cylinder when being raveled.

To insure the fabric being fed under the edge of the plate F, I provide a series of strippers K having an upper curved surface is in the present instance, which tends to force the fabric from the spiked teeth of the roll D. In the present instance the roll D is made as shown in Fig. 6, having grooves cl between each of the series of spiked teeth (1 and in each of these grooves rests a curved extension 1c of the stripper K and in order to hold the stripper in proper position in respect to the roll D I form an extension 7122 on the stripper which passes through a cross beam A on the frame and each extension is provided with a nut k the stripper can be adjusted in respect to the roll D.

I prefer to mount a spring is between a shoulder on the extension of each stripper and a cross bar A this spring forms a yielding support for the stripper when the nut 75 is so adjusted that the stripper does not bear upon the roll D. The spring in some instances, may be dispensed with and a nut mounted on the extension above the beam A.

Directly back of the cylinder B is a brush M, preferably made as shown in Fig. 1. M is a shaft mounted in suitable bearings a on the frame A and carried by this shaft are two hubs having arms m carrying the brush sec- By turning this nut tions m. These brush sections are so adjusted in respect to the teeth of the cylinder as to brush from the cylinder the separated threads carried by the teeth of the cylinder and the brush shaft is preferably revolved at a greater speed than the cylinder.

Any suitable mechanism may be used to impart motion to the several feed rolls, the drum and the brush shaft. In the present instance there is a main belt wheel B on the shaft B of the cylinder B and on the opposite end of the shaft is 'a pulley B over which passes a belt J to a pulley n on a stud N carried by a bracket N secured to the frame of the machine, and secured to the hub of this wheel n is a pinion n which meshes with a gear wheel 9 on the shaft of the roll G and on this shaft is a pinion g meshing with a pinion 72, of the same diameter on the shaft of the roll H. On the opposite end of the shaft of the roll II is a pinion 7L3 which meshes with a pinion d on the journal of the feed roll D. The two feed rolls G and II travel at the same speed, but the surface speed of the roll D is a trifle faster.

On the shaft M of the brush M is a belt pulley m which is driven independently of the other part of the machine in the present instance, although it may be belted directly to the mechanism of the machine if desired.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows :It will be understood that my invention is particularly adapted for raveling or disintegrating comparatively small pieces of fabric, and the fabric to which my invention is especially adapted is coarse fabric, such as carpets, filter cloth, bagging, etc., which heretofore it has been impossible to ravel without destroying the long fibers of the fabric. The pieces of fabric are pre sented to the feed rolls G and H of the machine and as the fabric passes between the feed rolls it is engaged by the teeth g of the feed roll G and as the points of these teeth incline backwards the fabric cannot be drawn at a greater speed than the surface speed of the feed rolls. The fabric passes from the feed rolls G and H to the spiked feed roll D, and the teeth (1 in this feed roll enter the grooves in the roll H as well as the grooves in the cross head E. By this arrangement the teeth (I penetrate the fabric and the fabric is held to the teeth not only by the feed roll II and the cross head E, but owing to the fact that there is a certain tendency to draw the fabric towards the roll,

and in some fabrics the weight of the fabric will be almost sufficient to cause the teeth to penetrate the fabric, as it will be noticed that the fabric passes over the feed roll D between it and the cross head.

I preferably drive the spiked feed roll D at a greater surface s eed than thefir'st feed rolls, so as to place su 'cient tension on the fabric to prevent the fabric buckling between the two feed rolls and this method of driving in sures the fabric being forced upon the spikes of the feed roll.

' The teeth d of the roll D act to resist the pull upon the fabric, feeding it at a given speed so that as the fabric is forced by the feed rolls under the edge f of the plate F the teeth I) of the cylinder B engage the transverse threads of the fabric and draw them from the lon itudinal threads. The plate is so adjusted in respect to the cylinder that the teeth of the cylinder will pass sufficiently close to the plate as to engage the threads and yet will not cut the fabric to any great extent at this point. As before remarked the teeth are what may be termed oven hung, being so shaped as to enter the fabric and engage the threads, insuring the proper separation of the transverse threads from the longitudinal threads without destroying the fibers of which the threads are composed.

As the se arated threads are carried around the cy inder they are removed from the cylinder by the brush M.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modification of myinvention which can be used to ravel heavy fabrics. G is a toothed feed roll, H is a smooth feed roll, D is a spiked feed roll rotating under the plate or cross head E, which is not grooved in the present instance. B is the cylinder having straight overhung teeth I); the fabric is fed under the edge of the plate and raveled by the toothed cylinder 13. In some instances the plate F may only be grooved and the curved surface of the cross head may be plain. The construction of the machine will depend somewhat upon the character of the fabric to be raveled.

In carrying out my invention it is not necessary that each tooth of the cylinder shall enga e a transverse thread of the fabric, as this will depend entirely upon the feed of the fabric and the speed of the cylinder, but in any event as soon as a transverse thread of the fabric projects sufiiciently beyond the edge of the plate it will be engaged. by a tooth of the cylinder and raveled from the fabric. By my im roved machine I am enabled to thoroughly risintegrate any fabric without destroying the fiber to any appreciable extent; thus the fiber can be re-spun as a high grade yarn and this yarn can be used in the formation of cloth of a superior quality.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination in a machine for ravcling woven fabric, of a plate, a toothed roll for positively feeding the fabric past the edge of said plate and at a given speed, a toothed cylinder so arranged in respect to the plate that the teeth of the said cylinder will travel close to the plate, the surface speed of the cylinder being greater than the speed of the feeding mechanism so that as the fabric is fed past the ed e of the late the teeth of the cylinder wil engage t e transverse threads of the fabric and will ravel them from the fabric, substantially as described;

2. The combination in a raveling machine, of a plate having a series of grooves at the back, a toothed feed roll, the teeth of said roll entering the grooves in the plate, a

toothed cylinder situated in front of the plate, the teeth of the cylinder being so shaped as to engage the transverse threads of the fabric and to ravel them from the body of the fabric, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a raveling machine, of a cross head, a grooved plate carried by the cross head, a feed roll mounted under the cross head and having spiked teeth in' close proximity to the cross head and entering the grooves in the plate, with a cylinder having overhung teeth arranged in close proximity to the plate so as to engage the transverse threads and separate them from the body of the fabric, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a raveling machine, of a cross head having a curved surface, a plate mounted on the cross head and also having a curved surface, a toothed feed roll, the teeth of the said roll being arranged in close roximity to the curved surface of the cross iead and the plate, with a cylinder having overhung teeth so arranged in respect to the plate as to engage the transverse threads of the fabric, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a raveling machine, of a cross head having a curved surface, a

late mounted on the cross head and also iaving a curved surface, means for adjusting the plate, a toothed feed roll, the teeth of the said roll being arranged in close proximity to the curved surface of the cross head and the plate, with a cylinder having overhung teeth so arranged in respect to the plate as to engage the transverse threads of the fabric, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a raveling machine, of a plate, a toothed feed roll for feeding fabric past the edge of the plate, a stationary stripper extending between the annular sets of teeth of the feed roll, and a cylinder having teeth arranged to engage the transverse threads and ravel them from the body of the fabric, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a raveling machine,

of a plate, a grooved feed roll having a series advance of said feed rolls and having teeth thereon, a cross head having a curved and grooved surface, the teeth of the third feed roll entering the grooves in the grooved feed roll and the grooves of the cross head, a plate under which the fabric is fed, and means for raveling the fabric at the plate, substan tially as described.

9. The combination in a machine for raveling fabric, of a grooved feed roll and a toothed feed roll, the two rolls being so spaced as to allow for the passage of the fab ric to be raveled, a third feed roll having spiked teeth, a cross head having a curved and grooved surface, the said spiked teeth of the third feed roll passing into the grooves of the cross head, a plate past the edge of which the fabric is fed, and toothed raveling mechanism for engaging the transverse threads and separating them from the body of the fabric, substantially as described.

10. The combination in a raveling machine, of a grooved feed roll and toothed feed roll, the teeth of which are inclined to the rear, the said feed rolls being so arranged that the fabric will pass between them and will be held against a pulling strain by the teeth of the said toothed feed roll, a third feed roll having spiked teeth, a cross head having a curved and grooved surface for the purpose of forcing the fabric onto the spiked teeth of the said feed roll, a plate past the edge of which the fabric is fed, and toothed raveling mechanism for separating the threads of the fabric, substantially as described.

11. The combination of two feed rolls, one having a toothed surface and the other grooved, a third feed roll having s iked teeth, a cross head having a curved and grooved surface, a plate secured to the cross head and having grooves at the back alining with the grooves in the cross head, the spiked teeth of the third feed roll entering the grooves in the cross head of the plate, a cylinder having overhung teeth arranged in close proximity to the plate so that the teeth will enter the fabric and separate the transverse threads from the body of the fabric, substantially as described.

12. The combination ofa pair of feedrolls, one of said rolls having teeth, a third toothed feed roll driven at a greater surface speed than the first mentioned feed rolls so as to place tension on the fabric, a plate past which the fabric is fed, and a toothed cylinder for ravelingthe fabric as it passes the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

STANLEY G. MILLER Witnesses WILL. A. BARR, Jos. I-I. KLEIN. 

